Short Family Hikes in Oahu | Beautiful, family-friendly Kawainui Marsh Trail

 

The Kawainui Marsh Trail

The Kawainui Marsh Trail (better known as the levy in Kailua) is a scenic, paved trail that is about 1.5 miles in length. Go for a run, trial a novice bike or bring the stroller! It’s perfect for families. The Kaha Street access even has a native plant garden and you can access the water to feed ducks or fish. Sounds idyllic, right? In theory, yes, but from our experience, not so much.

Our Experience at Kawainui Marsh with toddlers

We used to take Micah on his little bike and it was great. But, after Mila was born things went downhill. When she was about a month old, I took the kids on a play date with friends and it turned into a disaster. Due to a series of unfortunate events, I found myself 3/4 of the way down the levy with an empty water bottle, a toddler that no longer wanted to bike and an overheated newborn that was screaming. It gets HOT out there. In the end, I had to carry the baby, the toddler, and the bike back to the car. To top it all off, the car wouldn’t start. Ah, memories.

When I dared try the levy again, we biked for about 5 minutes before a surprise downpour forced us to turn around. I guess in the light of those 2 trips our most recent could be considered a raving success. Mila was more interested in making rock piles than biking. We spent about half an hour making rock piles on the bike, in the helmet and on the grass. She managed to get into a patch of sand bur and we spent another half hour picking all the burs off her clothes and shoes. We called it a day. At least we made it to the start of the levy and no one fell in the water.

Go early morning or evening, watch for rain squalls, avoid tall grass and I’m sure you’ll have a great time.

Looking for more short family hikes in Oahu like the Kawainui Marsh trail?

If you want to be a bit more daring for big views, head to the Lanikai Pillbox Trail. For a quieter, covered alternative try the Kaneohe Friendship Garden. Want more Ideas? Sign up for the Little Bird Post below to receive monthly inspiration on Oahu family fun.